Uniola paniculata
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-nee-OH-luh pan-ick-yoo-LAY-tuh
- Description
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Sea oats are a native warm-season grass that is slow-growing and long-lived. They are important in preventing damage to dunes during storms as they have both deep taproots and lateral rhizomes to help hold the soil in place. Being cover with sand repeatedly actually stimulates growth. They are damaged by pollution such as runoff from marinas and encroaching urbanization, foot traffic and off-road vehicles. Sea oats are a protected grass in several states along the southeastern Atlantic coast including NC.
The plant will grow to 6 feet tall with narrow green leaves up to 2 feet long and less than an inch wide in full sun in sandy well-drained soils. It tolerates dune conditions with blowing sand, drought and brief inundations of saltwater.
The panicles are made up of many flat spikelets that are green turning to light brown at maturity containing seeds. The panicles with their attractive drooping seed heads can be used in dried arrangements. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.”
Pests and Potential Problems: There are no known pests or potential problems associated with this species.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Uniola
- Species:
- paniculata
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern U.S.A., Mexico, Bahamas and Cuba.
- Distribution:
- VA. south to FL., along the gulf states into Mexico.
- Wildlife Value:
- Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Oval dry brown fruit that persists on the plant
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Small white flowers produced in spikelets in drooping panicles in early summer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Linear green leaves 8-18 inches long and less than an inch wide that taper at each end with parallel venation. Leaves emerge from the soil and are usually stemless.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
